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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a "Zimbabwe" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • matayoemma874@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Bob&Erin <b_e0219@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:57:41 -0400
Subject: HELLO FROM MATAYOEMMA



HELLO,
Compliments of the day. How are you and your family I hope that God is fully in control? I believe that you will be surprise to receive this mail in the sense that you don’t know me till this moment. I am the wife of Ndoga Stephen from Zimbabwe, my husband was allegedly killed by government of President Mugabe for supporting the Movement for Democratic Change.
However, on the eve of my husband's death in April 5. 2002, he gave me the sum of US$20 million (TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in cash to move to Lebanon, but immediately my husband died I moved the funds to security company through diplomatic courier service to Europe. The funds havebeen in the security company since April 5.2002. ecause of the restriction placed on me and my children by the government of President Robert Mugabe, I Simply cannot travel to secure this fund from the security company where this said amount was deposited.
Please as soon as you confirm to me by e-mail your readiness to assist me, I will send a copy of my Power of Attorney to the security company to authorizing them to release the funds to you. As soon as you have the funds in your custody, I will give you my account details in the Bahamas where you will transfer my funds to on my behalf. Please contact me immediately. You will be entitled to 30% of the totalsum involved for your assistance.
Please reply me through my alternative email:(matayoemma874@yahoo.co.uk)Yours sincerelyMrs. Matayo Emma,

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam